#BookReview: THE PERILS OF LADY CATHERINE DE BOURGH by Claudia Gray

Publication: 18th June 2024 – Penguin Random House Canada / Viking

The third book in the Mr. Darcy & Miss Tilney Mystery series, which finds the amateur sleuths facing their most daunting challenge yet: preventing the murder of the imperious Lady Catherine de Bourgh.

Someone is trying to kill Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Esteemed aunt of Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, generous patroness of Mr. William Collins, a woman of rank who rules over the estate of Rosings Park with an unimpeachable sense of propriety–who would dare? Lady Catherine summons her grand-nephew, Mr. Jonathan Darcy, and his investigative companion, Miss Juliet Tilney, to find out.

After a year apart, Jonathan and Juliet are thrilled to be reunited, even if the circumstances–finding whoever has thus far sabotaged Lady Catherine’s carriage, shot at her, and nearly pushed her down the stairs–are less than ideal. Also less than ideal: their respective fathers, Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy and Mr. Henry Tilney, have accompanied the young detectives to Rosings, and the two men do not interact with the same felicity enjoyed by their children.

With attempts against Lady Catherine escalating, and no one among the list of prime suspects seemingly capable of committing all of the attacks, the pressure on Jonathan and Juliet mounts–even as more gentle feelings between the two of them begin to bloom. The race is now on to provoke two confessions: one from the attempted murderer before it is too late–and one, perhaps, of love.

AMAZON

The adventures of Jonathan Darcy (eldest son of Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley) and Juliet Tilney (eldest daughter of Catherine and Henry Tilney of Northanger Abbey) as amateur detectives have reached Rosings Park. The tenacious Lady Catherine De Bourgh has been the victim of a few attempts on her life and demands that Jonathan and Juliet investigate the matter and put a stop to it in the briefest time possible. Both accompanied by their fathers, who fear a possible attachment between the two of them, Juliet and Jonathan set out to investigate. The suspects are all inside of Rosings: there is Colonel Fiztwilliam, now married to Lady Catherine’s daughter, Anne: where does he disappear every day for hours? There is Anne who resents her mother for sending her young son to boarding school. And then, there is the loyal Mr. Collins and his family who certainly keep their fair share of secrets. Juliet and Jonathan must discover the truth quickly, as the attempts on Lady Catherine’s life escalate.

As a huge fan of Jane Austen, I enjoy reading adaptations of her novels and the Mr. Darcy & Miss Tilney series is very-well made. Featuring the protagonists from Pride & Prejudice and Northanger Abbey, it often sees the appearances of other characters from Austen’s other novels. The Perils of Lady Catherine De Bourgh is the third novel in the series and, so far, my favourite. Jonathan and Juliet are wonderful characters and, in this third book, they finally acknowledge the feelings they have for each other, at least to themselves. Following the past investigations, Juliet Tilney has taken an interest in criminology, making experiments in the Northanger Abbey kitchen, even though it’s not proper for a young lady in society. She is fun, smart, and witty and, like Elizabeth Bennett before her, not afraid to speak out in front of Lady Catherine. Jonathan Darcy is my favourite character. Very intelligent and sweet, but also socially awkward, he is considered strange by society. The only person who seems to accept him for who he is (besides his mother) is Juliet. Those two characters are charming and adorable and I can’t wait for more of their adventures!

Well-written, engaging, and immersive, this is the perfect series for all Jane Austen lovers out there!

A huge thank you to Penguin Random House Canada and NetGalley for providing me with a proof of the novel.

CLAUDIA GRAY is the pseudonym of Amy Vincent. She is the author of the Mr. Darcy and Miss Tilney Mysteries, which began with The Murder of Mr. Wickham. She is also the writer of multiple young adult novels, including the Evernight series, the Firebird trilogy, and the Constellation trilogy; in addition, she’s written several Star Wars novels, such as Lost Stars and Bloodline, and is one of the story architects of the High Republic series. She makes her home in New Orleans with her husband Paul and assorted small dogs.